Cuban righty Gonzalez remains mystery to Sandberg

Only a handful of people have seen him pitch, but he almost certainly can be penciled into next season's rotation based upon the three-year, $12 million contract he signed. He is working out at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Fla., although he is not expected to compete in the Florida instructional league.

Only a handful of people have seen him pitch, but he almost certainly can be penciled into next season's rotation based upon the three-year, $12 million contract he signed. He is working out at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Fla., although he is not expected to compete in the Florida instructional league.

"He's a mystery to me," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Everything is based on scouting reports and what he has shown when he's pitching, and there's projections with that. Other than that, yeah, he'll be new to me other than a little bit of film and what the scouts say about him. They've been impressed as far as the ability to have a good chance to be in the starting rotation next year. Going into spring, we've got to see him firsthand."

Sandberg said he plans to visit Clearwater following the season, when he will get his first live look at Gonzalez.